National Policy Mandate for AI Studies
Higher education institutions across Pakistan are set to undergo a curriculum update designed to incorporate artificial intelligence into all academic tracks. Under a newly sanctioned policy by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), public and private universities nationwide must embed a compulsory three-credit-hour Artificial Intelligence course into every undergraduate and postgraduate degree program.
Implementation Timeline and Institutional Scope
The universal requirement spans all academic subjects, extending to non-computing fields as well as professional and general degree tracks. The policy comes into official effect beginning in the Fall 2026 term. University leadership and curriculum planning bodies are tasked with reviewing their existing degree structures and incorporating the three-credit-hour AI requirement prior to the Fall 2026 student intake.
Background and Strategic Objectives
The decision was endorsed at the commission secretariat in Islamabad during the 47th meeting of the HEC, which was chaired by Chairman Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar. The overarching goal of the directive is to ensure that university graduates across the country gain foundational AI knowledge and practical digital competencies necessary to participate in the contemporary global economy. Alongside this decision, the commission gave in-principle approval to a national framework designed to govern the responsible usage of Generative AI within higher education institutions.
Forthcoming Syllabi Guidelines
While the overall policy mandate has been established, specific course outlines and model syllabi customized for non-computing disciplines remain subject to official distribution and formal notification by the HEC Secretariat in upcoming communications.